What do nurses want?

Hello all.

My name is Alison and I run a charity, NICU Miracles. Our basis is bringing in supplies to NICU's in and around the state of Oregon (premature clothing, resources for parents, etc.).

Our newest "quest" is bringing gifts/support/items/whatever you want to call them to nurses and women on bed rest due to complicated pregnancies. I have received many ideas in the way of what to get the women on bed rest, but I knew the best people to ask about gifts for nurses is nurses themselves!

Being that we are still a small organization, financially we are not able to do big things (yet!). But I would like ideas if possible for smaller things that you as a nurse would appreciate. "Regular" ideas seem to be candy and the like, which is great when you are on the go. But what else? Hand lotions, foot care products, maybe even meat trays (quick and easy snack)?

Please email me any and all ideas - I truly appreciate your time!

kycam6@yahoo.com

-Alison
http://www.nicumiracles.org/

Hi My name is Jackie - nursing students,
This is wonderful what your organization is doing. I was admitted to the NICU after birth, I was a premature baby. I work in the Mother-Baby Hospital as an assistant and I think nurses enjoy reading when they have down time, so I maybe donating books would be nice.

-Jackie
sprat0323@hotmail.com

Nurses do not have any down-time at work, I assure you.

What about pretty paper and stamps? They can write to friends and relatives while layed up.

A journal to record their ideas, thoughts and feelings.

Contact a nursing home and "pair up" residents, who always love contact, with a bedridden mom. They can call or write each other. Be a great "grandparent" for the new baby too!

I spent 6 weeks in the hospital in traction once and the thing that helped me pass the time the best besides visitors was a Sega & games to play. Perhaps your organization could buy some Nintendo's or Playstations and some games to put around at various hospitals & the hospital volunteer office could be in charge of signing them out to patient's rooms & keeping tabs on them or something.

As a nurse the best gift I can think of is when somebody sends a pizza to the unit because being able to snatch a bite of something to eat between patient care runs is sometimes the only way busy nurses get to eat anything at all!